Use containers instead of ‘unpackaged’ plastic bags

As the effects of plastic waste on the environment and human health are known, there are active movements in each country to reduce the use of disposable plastic packaging materials, mainly in the distribution industry where many disposable plastic wastes are generated in everyday life.

Algramo, a Chilean food vendor, has installed vending machines in Santiago's low-income regions that sell rice, beans and detergents. Instead of products in small bags that are used once and discarded, consumers can purchase products in vending machines in reusable containers as much as they want. This is a way to encourage consumers to reuse existing containers. British retailer Unpackaged has created a store in London where consumers can purchase and store as many products as they need in the containers they bring without unnecessary packaging. It is a method in which the consumer weighs the product after placing it in a container and calculates the amount by itself. It has the advantage of preventing environmental pollution and allowing consumers to purchase products at a more reasonable price.

In some packaging food shops, where disposable plastics are mainly used, some countries have established a system in which consumers use and return reusable containers. Switzerland's “Recircle” is a container return system created by cooperation between distributors, restaurants and cafes across the country. If a consumer purchases a purple box worth about $10, uses it as a packaging container, and returns it to the store, the deposit can be returned. Instead of returning it, you can reuse it as much as you want to wash it and use it again. The American cup-sharing company, Vessel, charges for non-returnable cups. Cups are provided free of charge when ordering drinks, and consumers must scan the QR code on the floor when using the cup. Cups must be returned to the designated kiosk or cafe within 5 days. If you do not return the cup, you will be charged $15 through the app. In Korea, it is possible to borrow a tumbler instead of a disposable cup and return it free of charge through a sharing service called 'tumbling.'